The visa (무역경영) is for foreign nationals managing trade activities or commercial operations in Korea — typically as the representative or manager of a foreign company's Korean branch, liaison office, or trade operation. D-9 sits between (intracompany transfer) and (investment) as the category for business management without full incorporation.
Reviewed against
James Chae, 행정사 (Korean Licensed Administrative Attorney). License No. 220-06-06463 · 대한행정사회 (Korean Administrative Agents Association). Reviewed against the HiKorea 사증·체류업무 자격별 안내 매뉴얼 and cross-checked with Ministry of Justice issuances.
Last reviewed
April 22, 2026
Source references
Filing caution
Requirements can change by nationality, local immigration office, and filing channel. Confirm exact requirements with HiKorea, the responsible Korean consulate, or a licensed immigration specialist before filing.
is appropriate for three categories:
1. Trade representatives: Representing a foreign company in Korea for ongoing trade activities without establishing a Korean entity
2. Branch or liaison office managers: Managing a registered Korean branch office (지사) or liaison office (연락사무소) of a foreign company
3. Foreign individual sole proprietors (외국인 개인사업자) — April 2025 addition
As of April 2025, the category was expanded to include foreign nationals who wish to operate as sole proprietors (개인사업자) in Korea for trade-related activities — not as an employee of a foreign company, but as an independent operator.
Requirements for the sole proprietor track:
• Complete the OASIS startup/business preparation evaluation and score 30+ points across OASIS criteria 1–8
• Register a sole proprietorship with the Korean tax authority (사업자등록)
• Demonstrate a viable trade or commercial business plan
• The business must be genuinely trade-oriented — not service employment
This closes a gap where foreign individual traders and small-scale import/export operators had no clear visa pathway between the corporate D-8/D-9 tracks and the employment E-series.
D-9 is NOT for:
• Running a fully incorporated Korean company ( territory)
• Employment at a Korean company in a management role ( or territory)
• Pure sales activities without management responsibility
applications benefit from detailed documentation of actual trade activity — invoices, contracts, correspondence. 'I plan to do trade' without evidence is weak grounds.
Formalizing as a liaison office at KOTRA significantly strengthens the application.
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Can a D-9 holder hire Korean employees?
Yes — a branch or liaison office managed by a holder can employ Korean staff for administrative support under standard Korean labor law.
Branch office (지사): Can conduct commercial transactions; must be registered with KOTRA
Liaison office (연락사무소): Cannot conduct revenue transactions; for market research and relationship management only
Key documents:
• Foreign company's business registration certificate (apostilled)
• Letter of appointment confirming management authority
• Branch/liaison office registration certificate (if applicable)
• Evidence of trade activities: contracts, purchase orders, business plan
• Financial statements or proof of business viability
Duration: 1 year, renewable annually.
| D-7 Intracompany Transfer | D-8 Investment | D-9 Trade Management | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | Established multinational | Incorporated Korean company | Branch/liaison or direct trade rep |
| Legal entity | Korean subsidiary required | Korean corporation required | Branch/liaison or none |
| Role | Transferred manager/specialist | Investor/operator | Trade representative |
Sending an employee from overseas to manage a Korean subsidiary: D-7. Investing to create a new Korean company: D-8. Representing a foreign company in Korean trade without full incorporation: D-9.
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Browse specialistsWritten by James Chae — Co-Founder, Expert Sapiens
Platform expertise: Immigration consulting & visa services · Reviewed April 2026